Day Trips

Fascinating villages and townships are aplenty in the region that surrounds Bendigo.  Many have gold rush heritage like the arts and cultural haven of Castlemaine, the burgeoning wine district of Heathcote and the National Trust “First Notable Town” of Maldon.  The Loddon region, with townships including Bridgewater, Boort and Wedderburn is bursting with olive plantations, vineyards and crop farms and is just north of Bendigo.  With Bendigo as the hub, each of these places can be easily explored.

Heathcote
Heathcote is a rural township nestled amidst Box-Ironbark forests, with a strong historical background dating back to the 1850’s.   Heathcote’s physical and social attributes – the climate, nearby peaceful bush environment, vibrant new developments and the friendly people, make Heathcote a very special place to visit. 

Elmore
Set halfway between Bendigo and Echuca, Elmore might be small, but each October more than 60,000 visitors flood the town for the annual Elmore Field Days which is Victoria’s oldest and largest agricultural expo.  For the rest of the year, Elmore is a pleasant, sports-conscious village where you can catch up with the past and present at the Campaspe Run Rural Discovery Centre.

Castlemaine
Renowned for the arts, Castlemaine is a relaxed place with a sophisticated feel in a stately 19th century setting.  Once one of the world’s richest shallow alluvial goldfields; the town is now abuzz with vibrant cafés, eclectic shops, historic homes, gracious gardens and art galleries. 

Maldon
This quaint old goldmining town was the first town to be declared ‘notable’ by the National Trust of Australia in 1966.  The 19th century streetscape features old weatherboard homes, solid stone buildings and charming old shopfronts.   A historic steam train links Maldon to Castlemaine and galleries with fine food, cosy cafés, innovative shops and antique shops line the streets.

Loddon Region
The Loddon Tourism Area is situated adjacent to the City of Greater Bendigo and forms part of Tourism Victoria’s Goldfields and Murray Outback tourism regions. Covering an area of 6,700 square kilometres, and containing attractions varying from Aboriginal sites to early European settlements, goldfields, lakes, State and National Parks, and nature reserves.

Echuca-Moama
Take to the waters in Echuca-Moama - a charming riverboat port.  It is the “paddlesteamer” capital of Australia, with an early history as a bustling riverboat port.  Now as a reminder of the boom times, it is an everyday event to hear the nostalgic whistle of the riverboats as they continue to grace the Murray River.   


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